Information courtesy of the Office of the Indiana Treasurer of State, the Social Security Administration

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts allow people with disabilities to save for their future and pay for disability-related expenses without jeopardizing their access to public benefits. You can open the account for yourself, or an authorized individual can open one on your behalf, if you were diagnosed with a disability before the age of 26, and are either receiving or currently eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits.

Information courtesy of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration

The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have approved the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) through at the year 2020. While the core elements of HIP will stay the same, Indiana will be offering several enhancements to the program to help streamline services and address the state’s most pressing health needs.

Information courtesy of DisabilityScoop, the US Department of Justice

Back in December, President Trump issued an executive order requiring federal agencies to identify regulations for “repeal, replacement, or modification”. In response to the order, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced that he is rescinding twenty-five guidance documents, including several related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Information courtesy of the Government Accountability Office

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a new report on polling place accessibility. GAO examined 178 polling places during early in-person voting and on Election Day 2016, and found that 60% had at least one accessibility problem. The most common were steep ramps, lack of signs indicating accessible paths, and poor parking or path surfaces. GAO examined voting stations at 137 of the polling places. Of the stations examined, 65% had accessibility issues that could prevent people with disabilities from voting privately and independently.

The federal government is cutting funding for Affordable Care Act (ACA) navigators, individuals or organizations trained to help consumers look for health coverage options through ACA marketplaces. The cuts vary widely by state. Maine is getting an 8% cut, while Indiana will receive the deepest funding cut of any state, 82%.